20 Best Nursing Schools
in California
Programs, tuition, acceptance rates, scholarships, student life, and job placement — everything you need to choose the right school.
Why California?
The Nation’s Premier State for Nursing Education
California stands as one of the most rewarding states to pursue a nursing degree. With over 87 accredited institutions offering nursing pathways — from community college Associate Degree programs to elite research university doctorates — the Golden State caters to every ambition and budget.
California nurses are among the highest-paid in the nation, with median salaries often exceeding $124,000 annually. The state’s hospitals system employs over 200,000 nurses statewide, creating an insatiable demand for new graduates.
This guide covers the 20 best nursing schools across California, evaluating each on programs offered, admission requirements, tuition, scholarships, clinical placements, student life, and graduate outcomes. Whether you’re a high school graduate exploring BSN programs or an RN seeking an advanced degree, this is your definitive 2026 resource.
Also explore the full directory of California colleges at AmericanColleges.io.
California Nursing at a Glance
Ranked 2026
The 20 Best Nursing Schools
Click the tabs on each card to explore programs, admissions, student life, and career outcomes.
UCLA’s School of Nursing offers a comprehensive suite of programs from undergraduate through doctoral levels. Students benefit from one of California’s most research-intensive environments.
UCLA’s nursing program is the most selective in California. Applicants need strong academic records, clinical experience, and competitive standardized test scores.
Scholarships include merit-based awards for 3rd and 4th year undergrads and graduate students. NIH training grants are available for PhD students.
UCLA’s sprawling Westwood campus offers world-class amenities — recreation centers, over 1,000 student clubs, on-campus housing, and a vibrant cultural scene steps from Los Angeles. Nursing students train in the Louis and Doris Factor Health Sciences Building, home to a library with 530,000+ volumes and a high-fidelity simulation center.
Graduates complete clinical rotations at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center — ranked best hospital in the western U.S. — as well as Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and the Venice Free Clinic. Job placement rates are exceptional.
Founded in 1907, UCSF is one of California’s oldest and most prestigious nursing schools. Notably, it does not offer a bachelor’s program — UCSF focuses exclusively on graduate-level and doctoral nursing education, making it ideal for career changers and advanced practice nurses.
UCSF targets students with strong undergraduate records. The MEPN program accepts non-nursing bachelor’s degree holders and leads to RN licensure plus a master’s degree.
UCSF’s Parnassus Heights campus overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge, offering a stunning urban-professional environment. Students enjoy access to cutting-edge research labs, a tight-knit graduate community, and San Francisco’s vibrant cultural scene. The campus is health-sciences focused with no undergraduates, creating a deeply professional atmosphere.
UCSF graduates are among the most sought-after nurses in the country. Clinical rotations are embedded in UCSF Medical Center, one of the nation’s top-ranked hospitals. UCSF ranks among the top NIH-funded nursing schools nationally.
USC’s nursing programs are delivered through Keck Medicine of USC and combine clinical rigor with the university’s broader health sciences ecosystem. Programs attract nationally competitive applicants.
USC’s nursing program is California’s second-most selective. Strong academics, healthcare work experience, and compelling personal statements are essential.
USC’s University Park campus is one of LA’s most vibrant — with 500+ student organizations, top-tier athletics, and a powerful alumni network of 450,000+ Trojans worldwide. Nursing students access the Health Sciences campus and simulation-rich learning environments adjacent to Keck Hospital.
USC graduates earn among the highest starting salaries in California — MSN graduates average $161,094 annually. Clinical placements at Keck Hospital and the LAC+USC Medical Center are world-class.
UCI’s School of Nursing launched its inaugural BSN class in 1986 and established the full School of Nursing in 2017. The program emphasizes early clinical exposure, community health, and cutting-edge simulation.
UCI’s nursing program is moderately selective with strong research and community service focus expected from applicants.
UCI’s campus in Orange County is consistently ranked among the safest and most beautiful in the U.S. Nursing students have access to the newly renovated Berk Hall, state-of-the-art simulation manikins, and strong study-abroad partnerships.
Students log 10,000+ hours of clinical and faculty service per year across underserved Orange County communities. Graduates access UCI Medical Center and a broad network of top Orange County hospitals.
SDSU’s School of Nursing is a top-50 national program offering five distinct nursing degree pathways with a strong emphasis on public health and multicultural competence reflecting San Diego’s diverse population.
SDSU’s MSN program is moderately selective (34% acceptance rate). The 82,800+ applicants annually reflect its strong reputation and value proposition for the price.
SDSU’s campus overlooks Mission Valley and features top athletics, a thriving Greek life, and easy access to San Diego’s beaches and biotech industry. Nursing students benefit from proximity to Scripps, Sharp, and UCSD Health clinical sites.
With 95% of MSN students receiving financial aid and BSN graduates earning $85,451 on average, SDSU offers exceptional return on investment. The school’s location in San Diego — a major biotech and healthcare hub — creates strong employment pipelines.
CSULB’s nursing department is one of the most respected in the CSU system, with a stellar 97.20% NCLEX pass rate that reflects rigorous preparation and passionate faculty.
With a 47% acceptance rate, CSULB is more accessible than elite UC programs while still maintaining extremely high standards and NCLEX outcomes.
CSULB is known for its diverse student body and vibrant campus culture near the Port of Long Beach. Students access strong simulation labs and benefit from Los Angeles County’s extensive hospital network for clinical rotations, including Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s Hospital.
A 97.20% NCLEX pass rate ensures virtually all CSULB nursing graduates are immediately employment-eligible. Long Beach Memorial, Kaiser Permanente, and LA County Health are top employers of CSULB alumni.
CSUF’s nursing department boasts a near-perfect NCLEX pass rate of 98.67%, the highest reported among California’s large public universities, reflecting an outstanding curriculum and faculty dedication.
CSUF’s large size accommodates more students than most CSU nursing programs while maintaining elite NCLEX outcomes. Entry-level freshman admission through Cal State Apply.
CSUF’s Fullerton campus is diverse and energetic, with one of California’s highest enrollment counts. Students benefit from proximity to Orange County’s major hospital systems, vibrant campus sports, and a highly active nursing student association.
With a 98.67% BSN NCLEX pass rate, CSUF graduates are among the most employment-ready nurses in California. Hospitals across Orange County and LA actively recruit from CSUF’s nursing pipeline.
Samuel Merritt is a specialty health-sciences university where nursing shares campus with medicine, physician assistant studies, and physical therapy — creating an interprofessional learning environment unlike any other in California.
Admission is competitive. The ABSN program accepts applicants with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and completes BSN training in 12–16 months.
Oakland’s location provides access to the Bay Area’s world-class hospital ecosystem including UCSF, Kaiser, Sutter Health, and Alta Bates Summit. As a small health-sciences-only campus, Samuel Merritt students form unusually tight-knit professional cohorts.
Graduates enter one of the highest-paying nursing markets in the country — the San Francisco Bay Area. Interprofessional training gives Samuel Merritt alumni a collaborative edge in healthcare teams.
APU’s School of Nursing integrates faith-based values into a rigorous nursing curriculum. With 809 graduates in 2023, it is one of the highest-volume nursing schools in California.
APU values character and service alongside academics. Applicants are expected to align with the university’s Christian mission. Need-based and merit aid are widely available.
APU offers a warm, values-centered community. Students participate in mission trips, community health outreach, and service-learning embedded in nursing courses. The campus is about 30 minutes from LA’s major medical centers.
APU’s strong alumni network in faith-based and community hospitals across Southern California ensures excellent placement. 237 MSN graduates in 2023 reflect strong advanced practice pipelines.
Loma Linda University School of Nursing is one of California’s most comprehensive nursing schools by degree count, offering 13 programs from BSN through doctoral level. The school’s co-location with Loma Linda University Medical Center provides unmatched clinical access.
Loma Linda values whole-person wellness, a Seventh-day Adventist principle, alongside academic excellence. Most applicants are expected to demonstrate service orientation.
Loma Linda is literally a “Blue Zone” — one of only five places in the world where people statistically live longest. The campus wellness culture directly shapes its nursing ethos. Students train in one of California’s largest non-profit hospital systems.
Loma Linda Medical Center is one of the most complex hospital environments in Southern California, offering rare pediatric cardiac and transplant specialty placements. Graduates are prized by faith-based hospital networks nationwide.
USF’s School of Nursing and Health Professions combines Jesuit social justice values with rigorous clinical training. Students log 140,000 clinical hours annually across San Francisco’s diverse hospital network.
USF values social justice and community service in nursing applicants. Up to 10 merit scholarships are administered by the nursing school directly, in addition to FAFSA and CSS need-based aid.
USF’s hilltop San Francisco campus offers stunning views and a social-justice-oriented community. The School of Nursing is headquartered in Cowell Hall, featuring a simulated hospital environment with state-of-the-art manikins. The school’s Jesuit mission drives deep community health partnerships.
Rotation sites span trauma centers, acute care hospitals, ambulatory clinics, and community agencies across the Bay Area. USF’s Jesuit alumni network opens doors in mission-driven healthcare systems globally.
West Coast University is California’s highest-volume nursing school, producing 1,375 graduates in 2023 across 15 nursing programs. Open enrollment (100% acceptance) makes it highly accessible.
WCU accepts all qualified applicants. Scholarships include the Centennial Merit Scholarship, BSN Pathway Scholarship, Norma Ford Memorial Scholarship, and WCU Opportunity Grant.
The North Hollywood campus features skylights, waterfalls, and bamboo architecture alongside a high-tech Simulation Center. Students access study-abroad programs in Argentina, Spain, Belize, Panama, and South Korea through the Global Public Health Program.
Experiential learning practicums are conducted at major hospitals and community health agencies across the greater Los Angeles area. Students also participate in community health events like Care Harbor LA.
National University offers the most nursing degree programs of any single institution in California (17), delivered in innovative one-course-per-month modules allowing year-round enrollment — ideal for working adults and career changers.
Scholarships include Transfer to Success, Collegiate Honor Award, Presidential Tuition Scholarship, and Veterans’ Victory Scholarship. Year-round enrollment means no waiting for a fall cohort.
National University’s format caters to non-traditional students — working nurses, parents, and career changers. The 12-classroom Technology and Health Sciences Center in Kearney Mesa includes a state-of-the-art computer lab and simulation spaces.
Clinical rotations are supervised by preceptors across the San Diego area’s top healthcare systems. National University’s broad alumni base across California ensures strong referral networks for job placement.
CSUSB’s nursing program emphasizes culturally competent care for the diverse Inland Empire community, one of California’s fastest-growing healthcare markets.
CSUSB serves one of California’s most underserved communities, giving nursing students meaningful clinical experiences in under-resourced settings that build cultural competence and resilience.
The Inland Empire’s rapid population growth creates strong nursing demand. CSUSB graduates are highly valued by Arrowhead Regional, Desert Regional, and Kaiser Permanente facilities nearby.
Fresno State’s nursing department serves the Central Valley — California’s most medically underserved region — producing highly sought graduates with strong rural and agricultural community health experience.
The California Nurses Foundation offers scholarships specifically rewarding Central Valley nursing students for academic excellence and community commitment.
Fresno State’s campus reflects the cultural richness of the Central Valley. Students train in settings that range from community clinics to Fresno’s major medical centers, gaining exposure to agricultural worker health, migrant populations, and rural healthcare challenges.
Central Valley healthcare is chronically understaffed, making Fresno State graduates immediately sought-after by Community Regional Medical Center, Kaiser, Saint Agnes, and rural health clinics across the region.
Mount Saint Mary’s is a historically women’s university with a strong nursing tradition, emphasizing leadership development, ethics, and service in its nursing programs.
Set in Brentwood with stunning views of Los Angeles, MSMU offers a close-knit community with a strong Catholic and women’s leadership mission. Nursing students rotate through LA’s major hospital systems and community health centers.
MSMU nursing graduates are particularly valued by Catholic health networks like Providence St. Joseph Health, which operates multiple major hospitals across Southern California.
CBU’s College of Nursing integrates Christian faith into every aspect of nursing education, serving Riverside and the surrounding Inland Empire with compassionate, value-driven nurses.
CBU offers a strong faith-community atmosphere in Riverside, with chapel, service learning, and mission integration across all programs. Students rotate through Inland Empire hospitals and community health ministries.
Graduates are well-placed at faith-based healthcare facilities across the Inland Empire and greater Southern California, where CBU’s values-driven reputation opens doors.
Pacific Union College’s nursing program emphasizes holistic, Adventist health principles with small class sizes that ensure highly personalized education and strong faculty mentorship.
Nestled in the hills of Napa Valley, PUC offers one of California’s most scenic and serene campus environments. With only ~910 total students, nursing cohorts are small and close-knit, offering individualized attention unique among California’s nursing schools.
PUC nursing graduates access rotations through Napa and Bay Area hospitals, and are well-regarded by Adventist Health systems operating across California and the western U.S.
Point Loma’s nursing department benefits from deeply engaged faculty — many of whom are still practicing nurses — and a San Diego location providing access to some of California’s finest clinical settings.
Point Loma sits on a bluff above the Pacific Ocean — arguably California’s most scenic campus. Student reviews consistently highlight invested, passionate professors who host students at their homes and create deeply personal learning communities. The San Diego clinical ecosystem includes Scripps Health and Sharp Healthcare.
San Diego’s thriving healthcare and biotech sector ensures strong placement for PLNU nursing graduates. Scripps, Sharp, and UC San Diego Health are top employer partners.
Cal State Bakersfield offers nursing through a 3-year/9-quarter BSN format — one of California’s most streamlined pathways to RN licensure. The program is accredited by CCNE and has a long track record of producing career-ready graduates.
CSUB has the feel of a true college town situated in California’s Central Valley. Students enjoy a tight community, lower cost of living, and strong regional hospital partnerships for clinical training. The campus is nationally recognized for its academic programs.
Bakersfield’s Kern Medical and Adventist Health Bakersfield actively recruit CSUB nursing graduates. The city’s growing population and healthcare needs ensure strong local employment demand.
Financial Aid
Key Scholarships for California Nursing Students
Funding is available at every level. Here are the major scholarships and aid programs available statewide.
Cal Grant A & B
State grants for California residents attending eligible California institutions. Does not require repayment.
Up to $12,192/yrCA Nurses Foundation Scholarship
Awarded by the California Nurses Foundation to students demonstrating academic excellence and community commitment, especially in underserved areas.
Varies / Up to $8,000APLE Loan Forgiveness
Assumption Program of Loans for Education forgives student loans for nurses working in California’s medically underserved communities.
Full Loan ForgivenessNurse Loan Repayment Program
Available to nurses serving in critical shortage areas of California. Offered through OSHPD (Office of Statewide Health Planning).
Up to $10,000Federal Nursing Student Loans
Unsubsidized federal loans available to undergraduate and graduate nursing students through FAFSA. Lower interest rates than private loans.
Up to $20,500/yrInstitutional Merit Scholarships
Most schools on this list offer their own merit and need-based scholarships. UCLA, USF, National University, and West Coast University each award 4–10 internal scholarships annually.
$1,000 – $25,000+ADN Foundation Scholarship
Available to LVN students accepted into accredited California RN programs. Can be applied concurrently with other awards.
Up to $8,000Hospital Tuition Reimbursement
Major CA health systems including Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, and Dignity Health offer tuition reimbursement for nursing staff pursuing advanced degrees.
$2,500 – $10,000/yrReady to Explore All California Colleges?
Browse the full directory of accredited California institutions — from community colleges to research universities.
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